Chapter 2556

She opened her mouth and asked Xiaoyun: "How come you were gone so long?"

"Captain Hu is at Baiwan Mountain, I went to find him." Xiaoyun's sentence handed the matter over to Hu Xin.

Xiao Ping's gaze also fell on Hu Xin: "Since you came late, you must have brought the Calming Incense?"

The Soul-Capturing Mirror sighed: "Truly sharp, cannot hide it from him."

No wonder she's the woman managing the entire Lingyun Palace—she has to handle research, administration, and interpersonal relations.

"Hu Xin" beamed with a full face, repeatedly saying: "I brought it, I brought it, cannot delay Master Xiao's use."

Xiao Ping snorted, too lazy to argue with him: "Xiaoyun, go to Fenghe Pavilion and bring today's summary report; Hu Xin, you come with me."

He Lingchuan followed closely behind Master Xiao, entering the depths of Lian Valley.

He made no unnecessary movements; Lian Valley was under strict surveillance by Helu Heaven all along, and our side could not reveal any flaw.

The environment here is serene, with lush flora, occasional bird songs, banana leaves swaying gently in the wind, and beneath the Lotus Heart Pavilion, a spring eye gurgles forth, its bubbling spring water clearly audible.

If one didn't say this was a demon puppet experimental field, most first-time visitors would assume they had arrived at some scenic spot.

Two demon puppet masters passed through here, both bowed to Xiao Ping before hurrying away.

This is a place of surging undercurrents, where everyone is very busy.

Xiao Ping suddenly glanced at Hu Xin: "Why are you so quiet today, as if you've become a different person?"

This sentence made everyone in Doukou Garden feel a chill down their backs.

Jiuyou used a sea monster horn to disguise Hu Xin; even if they could replicate his appearance exactly, down to bodily scent and gait, their understanding of Hu Xin was only a couple of hours—his temperament, tone, and disposition, He Lingchuan could not possibly imitate perfectly in such a short time.

Even Hu Xin's usual small habits, he didn't know.

This woman is meticulous; she noticed at once that he was different from usual.

He Lingchuan gave a bitter laugh: "Thank you, Master Xiao, for your concern. Last night, my cultivation went awry, damaging my meridians, my lower abdomen aches terribly, and I've had no energy all day."

Though born of desperation, his answer was very particular. Did Master Xiao truly want to know the answer? Not necessarily. But if his expression and tone showed any flaw, the other would surely grow suspicious.

Attributing the abnormality to his cultivation going wrong is nothing strange for a cultivator, like a commoner catching a cold or stomachache. He also gauged that Master Xiao could not possibly take Hu Xin's pulse herself.

Sure enough, Xiao Ping hummed: "Go find some medicine to take."

She had just asked casually, and didn't think further.

Soon, Xiao Ping led Hu Xin into a garden.

Lian Valley has eleven gardens of various sizes; this is one of them, a petite garden covering about fifty square meters, with a giant banyan as the main feature, its neat and clean beard-like roots nearly touching the ground, sunlight filtering through the lush branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows among the plants below.

But this place is not ordinary; two guards stand sentry outside, keeping idlers away.

The banyan's fallen leaves pile thickly on the ground, where a small figure squats playing, back turned to this place.

Xiao Ping pointed at one guard and whispered to Hu Xin: "Give him the Calming Incense."

"Yes." He Lingchuan approached the guard, first nodding in greeting, then handed over the Calming Incense from his storage ring.

The guard pulled open the groove on the wall, directly poured in two bottles of Calming Incense, then closed it.

The two need not hold their breath; Calming Incense in liquid state is harmless, only becoming a potent tranquilizer when heated and volatilized.

The children in the garden, their view blocked by the wall, cannot see their actions.

Xiao Ping approached and called out: "A Lian, what are you playing?"

The other merely lifted her head to glance at her, then continued playing.

This is a four- or five-year-old girl, her eyes full and round, pupils large like a pair of black grapes, features small and exquisite, skin white with a hint of red, like a boiled egg rolled in a rouge box several times, tender and smooth, pores invisible.

Whoever this adorable little girl glances at, their heart will melt.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror said: "Wow, is this the A Lian Hu Xin mentioned? Indeed, she looks no different from an ordinary child. No, she's far prettier than ordinary children!"

A Lian pressed two cloth dolls on the ground, the cloth tiger in her left hand pounced on the cloth goat in her right, then followed by a tussle, and she still needed to voice "roar roar roar."

She seemed immersed in her own world, paying no heed to others.

Xiao Ping asked the guard beside her: "Anything abnormal today?"

"All normal." The guard replied: "She's been playing, but doesn't speak."

"Not even a sound?" Making tiger noises doesn't count as speaking.

"No."

Xiao Ping's face darkened, then she pulled the guard aside, whispered a few instructions, and gave him two items.

"Understood?"

"I—I understand." The guard's expression was somewhat uneasy.

He didn't want to get involved in this mess, yet now he dare not offend Xiao Ping.

Sigh, he's truly unlucky, assigned to garden duty today.

Xiao Ping saw his bitter expression and sneered: "Afraid of what? I'll take responsibility for everything."

The guard softly replied with a "yes."

Afterwards, he brought in a plate of snacks from outside, placed it on the ground, and gently pushed it into the garden.

"A Lian, hungry? Your favorite snack has arrived—chenpi red bean paste rice cake."

The girl turned her head, slowly rose to her feet.

The guard at the garden entrance hadn't even blinked when A Lian already stood before him.

From under the tree to Xiao Ping's side, at least two zhang away; an ordinary four- or five-year-old would need to take dozens of steps. But the guard only felt his vision blur slightly, and A Lian had already shifted position.

She didn't leave the garden because a red line was drawn on the ground.

The snack was placed inside the red line, while others stood outside it.

A Lian picked up the snack from the plate and stuffed it into her mouth, her other hand still clutching the cloth tiger as she played.

The freshly steamed snack was soft, glutinous, and fragrantly sweet. A Lian ate happily, but while eating and playing, she didn't lift her head.

Xiao Ping waited until she had eaten two pieces; this patient demeanor could make even her familiar subordinates find it hard to believe.

Master Xiao has always been swift and decisive, strict with his subordinates—when has he ever treated someone like this?

While A Lian was eating happily, the guard pulled out a nine-linked ring and waved it at the little girl:

"A Lian, look—what is this?"

The rings jingled, firmly capturing A Lian's gaze. She reached out her hand to the guard, meaning, give it to me.

The guard shook the toy in his hand but did not hand it over:

"Do you want it?"

A Lian nodded.

The guard smiled and said, "A Lian, tell me it's okay?"

A Lian wanted to speak but hesitated, and after a long while squeezed out a single word from her throat:

"Want."

Just like a child's voice.

"I know, you've wanted this for a long time." The guard glanced at Xiao Ping, saw her urging expression, and only then continued in a soft voice, "I didn't get this easily either. As long as you promise me one thing, I'll give it to you, okay?"